Abstract: A method of providing a deal optimization web service for dealerships includes receiving rate sheets from subscriber dealerships, the rate sheets containing parameters and parameter data for at least some of parameters that define a new deal, mapping the parameters into fields of a database, formatting the data for storage in the database, and storing the updated database. A system has a server having at least one processor, a display device, and a local memory, the server connected to a network, a database connected to the server, and a network of dealerships connected to the server through the network, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute code that causes the at least one processor to render a user interface on the display device that allows an administrative user to enter data into the database in a pre-defined format, the pre-defined format configured standardize and configure the data in the database for efficient searching by end-users.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring an instance of a business information application program based on data exported from an instance of the application program is provided. Each instance of the application program has a database storing an organizations' business data. Template providers desiring to provide a template containing configuration and instance data to organizations using the application program may use the application program to set up configuration and instance data for a particular type of organization. Once the database is populated with configuration and instance data, the template provider can use an export function to export the configuration and instance data to a template file. The template file is then provided to an organization that wants to initialize its database based on the template. The organization uses an import function to import configuration and instance data from the template into the organization's database.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring an instance of a business information application program based on data exported from an instance of the application program is provided. Each instance of the application program has a database storing an organizations' business data. Template providers desiring to provide a template containing configuration and instance data to organizations using the application program may use the application program to set up configuration and instance data for a particular type of organization. Once the database is populated with configuration and instance data, the template provider can use an export function to export the configuration and instance data to a template file. The template file is then provided to an organization that wants to initialize its database based on the template. The organization uses an import function to import configuration and instance data from the template into the organization's database.